Employment

Volunteer work

About this topic

Volunteer work records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time doing voluntary work through an organisation or group in the previous 12 months. It is a measure of formal volunteering, not all informal help between neighbours, family, or friends.

This topic can indicate community participation, social connectedness, and the capacity of local organisations to attract volunteers. The 2021 Census should be interpreted carefully because COVID-19 restrictions reduced volunteering activity in many places.

Interpretation notes

  • The Census counts voluntary work through an organisation or group, so it excludes informal help given outside formal organisations.
  • The question refers to the previous 12 months for people aged 15 years and over.
  • 2021 volunteering levels were affected by COVID-19 restrictions in many places, so change over time needs care.

Key insight

In 2021, not volunteering was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Sunnyside (Qld), accounting for 75.5% (74 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (76.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 13 people and 15.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Sunnyside (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Sunnyside (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Sunnyside (Qld), with comparison markers for Mackay (R).

Sunnyside (Qld)
Mackay (R)

Total Volunteer

2021 count

22

% of total

22.4%

Change from 2016

-6.3pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

74

% of total

75.5%

Change from 2016

+15.1pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

5

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

-3.8pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Sunnyside (Qld). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).

Volunteer work for Sunnyside (Qld). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
Volunteer work for Sunnyside (Qld). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mackay (R)%Count%Mackay (R)%Countpp
Total Volunteer2222.4%13.0%2928.7%18.6%-7-6.3pp
Total Not A Volunteer7475.5%76.9%6160.4%71.5%+13+15.1pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated55.1%10.2%98.9%9.8%-4-3.8pp
Total98100.0%100.0%101100.0%100.0%-30.0pp